Now that USF's 2026 football schedule is complete, let's take a glance at how the Bulls' opponents stack up.
Saturday, Sept. 5: FIU at Raymond James Stadium
The Panthers finished 7-6 last season after losing four of their first five games. That earned them a trip to the First Responder Bowl, where they were pounded 57-20 by UTSA.
Quarterback Keyone Jenkins, who threw for 1,742 yards and nine touchdowns last season, transferred to UCF. To fill that void, the Panthers signed quarterack JJ Kohl friom Appalachian State. The Panthers also said goodbye to three offensive linemen and tight end Dallas Payne.
They also lost multiple key players on defense to the Transfer Portal.
The consensus is that this is likely a rebuilding season at FIU.
Saturday, Sept. 12 at Army
Brian Haftline gets his first taste of American Conference football with a trip to West Point. It's the first time USF and Army have played since it joined the conference in 2024,
The Black Knights of the Hudson regressed last season, finishing 7-6 after going 12-2 in 2024. Army returns quarterback Cale Hellums, who doesh't throw much (just 87 pass attempts last year), but he can hurt you with his legs.
Hellums had six games last season where he rushed for 100 or more yards, and he finished with 18 rushing touchdowns.
Saturday, Sept. 19, Delaware State at Raymond James Stadium
The Bulls take on another MEAC opponent in the Hornets, who were runners-up last year to South Carolina State in that league.
To refresh your memory, the Bulls flattenened SCS 63-14 last year in Tampa.
No need to overthink it. This is a "clear the bench" game for USF.
Saturday, Sept. 26, at Bowling Green.
The Falcons are coached by former Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George. He finished 4-8 in 2025, which was his first year on the job, and the new season isn't looking much better -- at least on paperl
There was a significant stampede to the Transfer Portal by last year's roster, which means this season will look like a massive rebuild. It starts with quarterback Austin Novosad, who transferred from Oregon. It's also going to require a lot of patience.
For what it's worth, the BG campus is also home to the historic Oak Grove Cemetery, located adjacent to Overman Hall. We'll resist using that as a metaphor for the Falcons on what should be a convincing USF win.
Saturday, Oct. 3, Temple at Raymond James Stadium
The season starts to heat up here. Two years ago, a Philadelphia columnist seriously suggested the Owls should shut down the program. Coming off four consecutive 3-9 seasons, Temple made a late-season coaching change -- firing Stan Drayton.
Under new coach K.C. Keeler, the Owls finished 5-7 -- not exactly the stuff of champagne and parades, but it was a step in the right direction. A four-game losing streak at the end of the season cost the Owls a shot at a bowl game, but there is optimism as they head into this season.
Keeler brought in 23 players through the portal, and 247Sports ranked the Owls' class as the eighth-best in the American. Of course, USF's class was ranked No. 1, so there is that.
Thursday, Oct, 8, at UTSA
QB Owen McCown is back for the Roadrunners but they lost 23 players in the portal, including cornerback Davin Martin to Texas Tech.
After USF steamrolled UTSA 55-23 last year, long-time head coach Jeff Traylor vented about his lack of resources compared to the Bulls.
"They have done a great job. They've invested like incredibly well in their program. Do some research on the amount of money that's on that roster. It's really mind boggling. They look the part. Alex (Golesh) spent his money very wisely and he's got a great roster," Traylor said.
That set Golesh off.
"I think when you're talking about money on a roster, you're taking away from the fact that there's a bunch of dudes in that locker room that have poured into their process. There's a bunch of coaches that have demanded it of them," he said.
"And I think when you make comments like that, that rosters are bought, it discredits the fact that there's recruiting, that there's relationships being built, that there's development and coaching going on. I'm good with lobbying to make sure that you have the resources you need. I genuinely am."
Golesh, of course, left for Auburn and won't be around for the rematch. But, pssssst, coach Traylor? Let's just say Hartline has the resources he needs to be successful.
Saturday, October 17, Kent State at Raymond James Stadium
Kent's football program was up to its eyeballs in quicksand before first-year coach Mark Carney arrived. The Golden Flashes finished their first season under Carney with a 5-7 record.
That might not sound like much, but it was four more games than they had won the previous two seasons combined. Still, there is a lot more work to do if the program is going to compete for a MAC championship. Kent has one winning season since 2013, and that was 7-6 in 2019.
USF designated this as its Homecoming game. There's probably a reason for that.
Saturday, Oct. 31, UAB at Raymond James Stadium
Speaking of rebuilds, the Blazers bottomed out last season, firing head coach Trent Dilfer in mid-October and replacing him with interim coach Alex Mortenson -- son of the late ESPN broadcaster Chris Mortenson.
Mortenson was later elevated to the full-time job. If nothing etlse, things should be a quieter around the program now. Dilfer was always a volcano ready to erupt.
The sheer size of what needs to be done to return UAB football to relevance is staggering. Top receiver Iverson Hooks transfrred to Oregon, leading a mass migration of Blazers out the door. Witness the 41 players Mortenson added through the portal. He'll need those reinforcements. UAB's 2026 high school recruiting class was ranked last in the American by On3.
Friday, Nov. 6, at East Carolina
USF fans should probably approach this one with at least a little trepidation.
Hoist The Colors, an East Carolina fan site, said, "In arguably the most anticipated game on the home schedule, USF will roll into town for a Friday night game on Nov. 6, that could have huge conference implications.
Expect USF defensive coordinator Jeff Aldridge to be a big story. He had the same job in 2025 with the Pirates but left after one season to join the Bulls. His East Carolina defense was the best in the conference last season, and Hoist The Colors noted that Aldridge "left the program on not exactly the best terms this offseason."
The Pirates are coming off a 9-4 season and a Military Bowl win over Pitt. They could be even better this year.
Thursday, Nov. 12, Memphis at Raymond James Stadium
Memphis has been USF's kryptonite lately. The Tigers lead the all-time series 10-4, including the last five in a row.
Last year was particularly gruesome for the Bulls. They led by two touchdowns going into the fourth quarter at Memphis, but saw the Tigers roar back with 17 unanswered points for a 34-31 win.
The Tigers have a new coach now after Ryan Silverfield went to Arkansas, where he will be in the same division with Golesh.
New head coach Charles Huff will need to settle on a quarterback after three signal-callers left through the portal -- including A.J. Hill to Arkansas. The Tigers did add South Carolina's Air Noland through the portal, along with West Florida's Marcus Stokes. Noland started his career at Ohio State, then transferred to South Carolina. He remains and unknown quantity.
How quickly they get that position settled will determine how this season goes for the Tigers.
Saturday, Nov. 21, at Florida Atlantic
Quarterback Caden Veltkamp returns to run second-year head coach Zach Kittley's up-tempo offense,
Veltkamp threw 50 times last year, completing 35 in a 48-13 loss to USF. Eight of those completions went to Asaad Waseam, part of his seasn haul of 66 receptions for 699 yards and five touchdowns,
He transferred to Purdue.
Friday, Nov, 27, Tulane at Raymond James Stadium
This game could be flexed to Nov. 28, but we'll not worry about that now., Tulane
Tulane is another team that has owned the Bulls lately. The Green Wave has won the last four matchups against USF, and they haven't been close.
USF's only win in the five-game history with Tulane was in 2017.
Like a lot of teams, Tulane was hit hard by the portal, and it experienced a coaching change when Jon Sumrall took the Florida Gators job.
Don't shed too many tears for the Green Wave. They are the defending conference champions and qualified for the College Football Playoff. It was the fourth year in a row that Tulane made it to the American title game.
New head coach Will Hall had an interesting take on life in the Group of 5, as reported by Yahoo through WGNO.
“We’re always going to lose our older guys to the portal. That’s part of it. You know, what we’re trying to do is, who is the next Alex Bauman? Who is the next Darian Mensah? Who’s the next Rayshawn Pleasant? Who’s the next Shadre Hurst? Come here. Play three years. Get a Tulane degree that will set you up for life, and then leave and go to the NFL or leave and one of these schools that pay players $1 million or $ 2 million a year will pay you,” Hall said.
Well......OK.